Why would Christians believe in witches?

[Stevicus]

I've thought of this topic in the past, although was reminded of it when coming across this story in the news:
329 years later, last Salem 'witch' who wasn't is pardoned | AP News

BOSTON (AP) — It took more than three centuries, but the last Salem “witch” who wasn’t has been officially pardoned.

Massachusetts lawmakers on Thursday formally exonerated Elizabeth Johnson Jr., clearing her name 329 years after she was convicted of witchcraft in 1693 and sentenced to death at the height of the Salem Witch Trials.

Johnson was never executed, but neither was she officially pardoned like others wrongly accused of witchcraft.

Lawmakers agreed to reconsider her case last year after a curious eighth-grade civics class at North Andover Middle School took up her cause and researched the legislative steps needed to clear her name.

Subsequent legislation introduced by state Sen. Diana DiZoglio, a Democrat from Methuen, was tacked onto a budget bill and approved.

“We will never be able to change what happened to victims like Elizabeth but at the very least can set the record straight,” DiZoglio said.

In a statement, North Andover teacher Carrie LaPierre — whose students championed the legislation — praised the youngsters for taking on “the long-overlooked issue of justice for this wrongly convicted woman.”

“Passing this legislation will be incredibly impactful on their understanding of how important it is to stand up for people who cannot advocate for themselves and how strong of a voice they actually have,” she said.

Johnson is the last accused witch to be cleared, according to Witches of Massachusetts Bay, a group devoted to the history and lore of the 17th-century witch hunts.

“For 300 years, Elizabeth Johnson Jr. was without a voice, her story lost to the passages of time,” said state Sen. Joan Lovely, of Salem,

Twenty people from Salem and neighboring towns were killed and hundreds of others accused during a frenzy of Puritan injustice that began in 1692, stoked by superstition, fear of disease and strangers, scapegoating and petty jealousies. Nineteen were hanged, and one man was crushed to death by rocks.

Johnson was 22 when she was caught up in the hysteria of the witch trials and sentenced to hang. That never happened: Then-Gov. William Phips threw out her punishment as the magnitude of the gross miscarriages of justice in Salem sank in.

In the more than three centuries that have ensued, dozens of suspects officially were cleared, including Johnson’s own mother, the daughter of a minister whose conviction eventually was reversed.

But for some reason, Johnson’s name wasn’t included in various legislative attempts to set the record straight. Because she wasn’t among those whose convictions were formally set aside, hers still technically stood. Unlike others wrongfully accused, Johnson never had children and thus had no descendants to act on her behalf.

“Elizabeth’s story and struggle continue to greatly resonate today,” DiZoglio said. “While we’ve come a long way since the horrors of the witch trials, women today still all too often find their rights challenged and concerns dismissed.”

One of the stranger, more inexplicable atrocities in our history. I never could understand why Christians would have even believed in the existence of witches. If they believe in Christianity, wouldn't that mean that they would see other religions - including the power of witchcraft and magic - as false?

Wouldn't their fear of witches (or anything they see as the "occult") indicate that they believe in that kind of power? If so, then is that an acknowledgement that the God they believe in is powerless to protect them from such a power, thus necessitating them taking action on their own?

 

[Estro Felino]

The art 2117 of catechism of the RCC is very clear about this.
And I recall my catechist telling us such things do not exist.

 

[Stevicus]

The art 2117 of catechism of the RCC is very clear about this.
And I recall my catechist telling us such things do not exist.

I looked it up: Catechism - 2117 (catholiccrossreference.online)



All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others — even if this were for the sake of restoring their health — are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity.

It appears to just warn people against using it, but this passage doesn't explicitly deny the existence of occult powers.

 

[ChristineM]

I've thought of this topic in the past, although was reminded of it when coming across this story in the news:
329 years later, last Salem 'witch' who wasn't is pardoned | AP News







One of the stranger, more inexplicable atrocities in our history. I never could understand why Christians would have even believed in the existence of witches. If they believe in Christianity, wouldn't that mean that they would see other religions - including the power of witchcraft and magic - as false?

Wouldn't their fear of witches (or anything they see as the "occult") indicate that they believe in that kind of power? If so, then is that an acknowledgement that the God they believe in is powerless to protect them from such a power, thus necessitating them taking action on their own?

The bible tells them witches exist and that they should be killed.

Me personal take on this is because Christianity itself is heavily involved in witchcraft, prayers (spells) to invoke whatever. And they don't want the competition

 

[Stevicus]

The bible tells them witches exist and that they should be killed.

Me personal take on this is because Christianity itself is heavily involved in witchcraft, prayers (spells) to invoke whatever. And they don't want the competition

It could be that, although it seems in Salem, it was more just a case of mass insanity with a lynch mob mentality. I'm not sure if they actually believed that any of these women were witches, or if they just decided that they didn't like somebody and decided they had to be killed.

 

[pearl]

Salem witch trials | History, Summary, Location, Causes, Victims, & Facts | Britannica

 

[Estro Felino]

I looked it up: Catechism - 2117 (catholiccrossreference.online)



All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others — even if this were for the sake of restoring their health — are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity.

It appears to just warn people against using it, but this passage doesn't explicitly deny the existence of occult powers.

That is right.
But so many Christians, me included do deny the existence.

 

[ChristineM]

It could be that, although it seems in Salem, it was more just a case of mass insanity with a lynch mob mentality. I'm not sure if they actually believed that any of these women were witches, or if they just decided that they didn't like somebody and decided they had to be killed.

I think you are correct, i have not really looked at Salem other than ergot could have been involved.

As a child i lived not far from Pendle hill, synonymous with the Pendle witches, it was always a topic of fascination.

Pendle witches - Wikipedia

I found out later that Anne Whittle (hung for witchcraft was an ancestor on my mom's side.

 

[The Hammer]

That is right.
But so many Christians, me included do deny the existence.

But I use it fairly often. So it's got to exist to some extent, no?

Otherwise what am I doing?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

It could be that, although it seems in Salem, it was more just a case of mass insanity with a lynch mob mentality. I'm not sure if they actually believed that any of these women were witches, or if they just decided that they didn't like somebody and decided they had to be killed.

Well, chances are they actually believed it. It fits the Thomas Theorem: "If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences”.

 

[Augustus]

Wouldn't their fear of witches (or anything they see as the "occult") indicate that they believe in that kind of power? If so, then is that an acknowledgement that the God they believe in is powerless to protect them from such a power, thus necessitating them taking action on their own?

Early Christians presumably believed in it because pre-Christians believed in it.

In the Middle Ages, the church position was that witchcraft didn't exist and that it was heretical to believe in witches.

Presumably, common folk still maintained their superstitions though, and the church position changed post-reformation (perhaps due to religious 'competition' and ).

Belief in, and fear of, witchcraft/black magic is pretty ubiquitous across human societies though, so it would be more surprising if Christians had not believed in it.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Early Christians presumably believed in it because pre-Christians believed in it.

In the Middle Ages, the church position was that witchcraft didn't exist and that it was heretical to believe in witches.

Presumably, common folk still maintained their superstitions though, and the church position changed post-reformation (perhaps due to religious 'competition' and ).

Belief in, and fear of, witchcraft/black magic is pretty ubiquitous across human societies though, so it would be more surprising if Christians had not believed in it.

Well, from my high-school history witches got "power" from the Devil and he is real to some Christians.

 

[F1fan]

It's apparent to me that Christianity over the millennia has used villains and enemies as a means to coerce and threaten believers. Look at the threats of going to hell as a coercive act. This religion has done very well vilifying outsiders and making the believer feel safe in the tribe. If you are a witch you can be tortured and executed. Accepting Jesus is a way to avoid this fate. Would Jesus approve of torturing people for witchcraft, and killing them? Of course not. But Christianity is seldom about following Jesus, it's about control and power.

 

[sun rise]

The answer to me is weak faith + superstition. If someone wholeheartedly believes in an omnipotent God, then they would not fear but instead pity those who were going to hell.

Add to that the belief in various occult powers and you have the ingredients for the persecution and murder of those who they feared.

 

[Rival]

(perhaps due to religious 'competition' and ).

And.....

Baited breath.

 

[Viker]

Witches don't exist.

 

[Augustus]

And.....

Baited breath.

A witch stole my words... Burn her...

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Early Christians presumably believed in it because pre-Christians believed in it.

In the Middle Ages, the church position was that witchcraft didn't exist and that it was heretical to believe in witches.

Yup. Which makes the real question how did this position change with those in power saying it doesn't exist.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

A witch stole my words... Burn her...

I'll use my larger scales!

 

[Stevicus]

Witches don't exist.

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